RAY DELL'S REIGN OF TERROR IN HULL: SEX OFFENDER CAUGHT TALKING TO YOUNG GIRLS OUTSIDE HIS HOME
In October 2018, Hull witnessed a disturbing incident involving Ray Dell, a known sex offender with a troubling criminal history.Dell, aged 50, was seen engaging in inappropriate conversations with a series of young girls outside his residence on Airlie Street, raising serious concerns among local residents and authorities alike.
Despite being on licence and under a sexual harm prevention order, Dell’s actions demonstrated a blatant disregard for the restrictions imposed upon him.
A vigilant mother, alarmed by his behavior, promptly reported her suspicions to the police after observing Dell seated on his doorstep, speaking to girls as they left school in the afternoons.
Over a span of three months, from April 29 to July 30, Dell was recorded talking to nine girls aged between seven and thirteen, an activity that clearly breached the conditions of his release.
Ray Dell, a father of two, has a long and troubling history of sexual offences.
Described by those who know him as “intelligent” and “articulate,” he was arrested following these recent incidents and subsequently admitted to police that he had interacted with the girls.
However, Dell claimed that these conversations took place after 6 pm, contradicting reports that suggested the contact occurred earlier, after 4 pm.
His previous convictions include a four-year prison sentence handed down in York in 2008 for sexual assaults on a child and possession of indecent images.
Additionally, he was jailed in October 2016 for breaching a sexual offences prevention order, and again in January 2017 for two years in Hull for breaching another sex offending order and possessing indecent images.
His latest breach involved violating the order that prohibited him from having unsupervised contact with children under 16.
The court heard that Dell’s actions were deliberate and concerning, especially given his extensive criminal record.
Prosecutor John Batchelor emphasized Dell’s history of sexual offending, which underscored the seriousness of his recent conduct.
Judge David Tremberg addressed Dell’s legal representative, stating, “He’s an intelligent, capable man.
Articulate.
He clearly understood what he should and shouldn’t do and couldn’t resist the attention of young children.” The defense argued that Dell had become socially isolated in recent years and that he found it difficult to accept his status as a sex offender.
They also pointed out that his interactions took place in public view and did not involve any physical contact.
In a previous sentencing hearing, it was revealed that Dell had befriended two mothers and subsequently babysat their children without their knowledge of his criminal background.
One mother, who had three daughters, and another with a single daughter, were unaware of Dell’s past convictions.
Between 2012 and his arrest in October 2017, Dell would go on day trips with these families and occasionally babysit their children.
On one occasion, three children from one family spent about half an hour alone with Dell at his flat, although there was no evidence of any misconduct.
Further incidents included Dell at a play centre with a mother and her daughter, where concerns arose when he began taking photographs of the girl while they were in the ball pool.
Dell, residing at Newland Court off Alexandra Road in west Hull, had previously admitted to breaching a sexual offences prevention order and taking indecent photographs of a child.
His actions led to a court sentence of 18 months for breaching the order, with an additional six months for the indecent images.
Judge Graham Robinson condemned Dell’s conduct, stating, “This wasn’t simply unsupervised contact with these children, you allowed them into your home.
There was no reasonable excuse for your conduct.” As a result, Dell was handed a new sexual harm prevention order and remains on the sex offenders’ register for life, reflecting the ongoing concern over his potential risk to the community.
